Google doodles

[9A]

Mar 01, 2024

St. David's Day 2024



This St. David's DayDoodle features the legendary red dragon.

This handcrafted Doodle celebrates St. David’s Day in Wales [also known as Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant]! The artwork takes inspiration from the legend of Dinas Emrys wherein a king’s castle collapsed many times due to two dragons fighting in a lair below its foundation. Eventually, the red dragon prevailed and became a symbol of Welsh pride. Today, the flag can be seen waving throughout the country.

On this day each year, people with Welsh roots around the world honor their cultural identity. Many display their Welsh pride by wearing a leek or daffodil — both national symbols of Wales.

Many cities and towns across Wales hold parades or festivals, with the biggest examples being in Cardiff and Swansea. Some schools choose St David’s Day to hold eisteddfodau, a traditional poetry and music competition that celebrates ancient Welsh verse.

As winter turns into spring, there’s no better way to celebrate St. David’s Day by getting together with loved ones to enjoy a steaming bowl of cawl [hearty lamb stew], rarebit [open-faced hot cheese on bread], and deliciously sweet Welsh cakes.

Happy St. David's Day to everyone of Welsh descent! Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

[9A]

March 1, 2016

St. David's Day 2016




Today is St. David’s Day in Wales, commemorating the life and death of Wales’ patron saint. We’re celebrating this important national holiday with today’s Doodle. Each component in the illustration represents a unique aspect of Wales’ culture and national symbology.

The ancient lettering and Celtic knot are a nod to Celtic art’s importance in Welsh culture. The daffodil, Wales’ national flower, features prominently in St. David’s Day celebrations across the world. No St. David’s Day Doodle would be complete without the Welsh dragon, which adorns the national flag. The dragon is quite possibly Wales’ most enduring national symbol.

We’d like to wish a Happy St. David’s Day to everyone celebrating today, throughout Wales and beyond.

[9A]

Mar 1, 2019

St. David's Day 2019


Today’s Doodle celebrates St. David’s Day, a day that honors the patron saint of Wales, who has been commemorated by Welsh people since Dewi Sant’s canonization in the 12th century. St. David is said to have lived more than 100 years, founding many churches and monasteries before becoming archbishop. The grand medieval St. David’s Bishop’s Palace, located in the coastal city of St. Davids, conveys the enormity of his legacy.

The leek became a national symbol of Wales after St. David recommended that soldiers wear leeks in their caps so they would know who was who on the battlefield. Welsh soldiers still eat raw leeks on St. David’s Day while many citizens pin them on their clothes to mark the occasion and enjoy a traditional meal of cawl cymreig, a tasty stew of leeks and lamb [although St. David was reportedly a vegetarian].

[9A]

Mar 1, 2018

St. David's Day 2018







March 1st is celebrated in the UK as St. David’s Day [Dewi Sant], named after the patron saint of Wales. The musical country earned the title “Land of Song” through its rich history of choral singing, dating all the way back to the 19th century.

Today’s Doodle was created by Sander Berg, an illustrator from Sweden who now makes his home in Wales. It features a woman in historic Welsh dress—now traditionally worn on St. David’s Day—plays the Welsh National Anthem on a Welsh Triple Harp. The harpist plays in front of Mt. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, and is surrounded by Cenhinen Pedr [St. Peter’s Leek], also known as the daffodil. As one of the first signs of spring, the cheerful flowers are an important symbol on Welsh National Day, and can be seen popping up in fields and on lapels throughout the country.

Wales boasts several well-known musical institutions, including The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Welsh National Opera, the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, and a myriad of Welsh Male Voice Choirs. Eisteddfod, an eight-day festival of literature, music, and performance, is a common way for Welsh communities around the world to honor their patron saint and celebrate their musical heritage.

[9A]

Mar 01, 2020

St. David's Day 2020




Today’s Doodle pays homage to the annual commemoration of cultural heritage in Wales, St. David’s Day. Every year the country comes together in honour of their patron saint to celebrate Welsh history, culture, and identity.

Recognised since the 18th century, St. David’s Day is a time for the Welsh to show their national pride. Many may wear pins of leeks, daffodils, or both as historical emblems of Wales, which have come to be associated with the day. The leek is said to have been worn by medieval Welsh warriors to differentiate themselves from their enemies, and the daffodil coincides with the holiday’s arrival as winter gives way to spring.

From Wales’ largest city, Cardiff, to its smallest, St. Davids, locals hold parades and concerts. Schools host Eisteddfodau, a traditional festival of poetry and music, and children often dress up in 18th and 19th century-inspired clothing or even dress as the Welsh flag’s red dragon.

To get into the Welsh spirit, you can enjoy a speciality like the Welsh Rarebit. Or, simply take in this year’s first daffodils to welcome the spring season!

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! [Happy St. David’s Day!]

[9A]

Mar 01, 2023

St. David's Day 2023




Today’s Doodle celebrates St. David’s Day in Wales, or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant in Welsh. On this day in the year 589, St. David was canonized and became the patron saint of Wales.

Each year on March 1st, a national St. David’s Day Parade is held in the city of Cardiff, where schoolchildren and bands march in traditional Welsh costumes. They wear bright red gowns and dark tall hats and carry the Welsh flag.

The flag of Wales features a red dragon atop a green and white background. According to the legend of Dinas Emrys, a Celtic king’s castle repeatedly collapsed due to two dragons fighting in a lair below its foundation. Eventually, a red dragon prevailed and became a symbol of Welsh pride. Today, the flag decorates buildings and homes throughout the country.

Today’s colourful Doodle was inspired by items found in Wales. The artwork was hand-crafted with cut acrylic glass inspired by traditional stained glass windows and prominently features Wales' National flower — the daffodil!

Happy St. David’s Day Wales!

[9A]

February 15, 2011

Ernest Shackleton's Birthday





Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton [15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic. He was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

[9A]

Feb 16, 2011

Miriam Roth's Birthday



Miriam Roth [January 16, 1910 – November 13, 2005] was a preeminent pioneer of Israeli preschool education, author and scholar of children's literature, with a long career as a kindergarten teacher and educator. Many of the children's books she wrote became Israeli best-selling classics.

[9A]

February 16, 2015

Rosenmontag 2015




Rosenmontag is the highlight of the German Karneval [carnival], and takes place on the Shrove Monday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras, though celebrated on Fat Tuesday, is a similar event. Rosenmontag is celebrated in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, but most heavily in the carnival strongholds which include the Rhineland, especially in Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Aachen and Mainz. In contrast to Germany, in Austria, the highlight of the carnival is not Rosenmontag, but Shrove Tuesday.

The name for the carnival comes from the German dialect word roose meaning "frolic" and Montag meaning Monday.

[9A]

23 November 2022

Celebrating Myrtle Gonzalez




Today’s Doodle celebrates Mexican American actress, Myrtle Gonzalez and was illustrated by Bay Area-based guest artist, Ana Ramírez González. Myrtle Gonzalez starred in an astounding 80 silent films in just five years between 1913 and 1917. On this day in 1914, one of Myrtle Gonzalez’s most well-known films, The Level, was released.

Gonzalez was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 28, 1891. She had a lovely soprano voice, often singing in church and at local charity events as a young girl.

As movie production shifted from New York to Los Angeles, which offered more diverse scenic landscapes for filmmakers, Gonzalez seized the opportunity to get involved in film. She participated in a few local plays before joining a silent motion picture studio called Vitagraph Company of America, where she made her film debut in The Yellow Streak.

After a few years, she moved to Universal Studios and performed in feature films like The Secret of the Swamp and The Girl of Lost Lake. Many of the bold, outdoorsy heroines she played lived in the wilderness, forcing the city girl to adapt to filming in new, treacherous climates. As shown in today’s Doodle, Gonzalez once acted in three feet of snow!

Gonzalez was proud of her Hispanic heritage, and throughout her career, she played strong women who persevered through adversity with strength and dignity.

While much of her work was lost over the years, the Library of Congress preserved a few of her films. She is remembered as one of the first Latina actresses to break into Hollywood.

This Doodle's Reach

[9A]

17 December 2021

Celebrating Carrie Best




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based guest artist Alexis Eke, celebrates Canadian activist, author, journalist, publisher, and broadcaster Carrie Best and her record of influential accomplishments, including co-founding The Clarion—one of the first Nova Scotian newspapers owned and operated by Black Canadians. For her humanitarian efforts, Best was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1974, and subsequently became an Officer of the Order of Canada on this day in 1979.

Carrie Mae Prevoe was born on March 4, 1903, in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia during a time of pronounced racial discrimination. Encouraged by her parents to take pride in her heritage, she decided from a young age to refuse racial stereotypes and immerse herself in historical and literary works written by Black Canadians and African-Americans. In 1925, she married Albert T. Best.

In 1943, Best was arrested for sitting in the “white only” section of New Glasgow’s Roseland Theatre—an act of protest against the forcible removal of several Black teens who attempted to sit there only days before. She then sued the theatre based on racial discrimination but lost the case. Her drive for equal rights was only strengthened by this event.

Best founded The Clarion in 1946 to publish news by and for the nation’s Black community. In 1952, Best established her own radio show titled “The Quiet Corner,” where she broadcast music and read poetry often relating to human rights for the next 12 years. Best was also a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Best’s efforts were recognized with honorary law doctorates in 1975 and 1992. The University of King’s College in Halifax, one of the institutions that awarded Best, continues to carry on her legacy by offering outstanding Black and Indigenous Canadian students a scholarship named in her honor.

Thank you for fighting for the future of marginalized people in Canada and beyond, Carrie Best!

[9A]

17 December 2011

Josef Lada's 124th Birthday



Josef Lada was a Czech painter, illustrator and writer. He is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek's World War I novel The Good Soldier Švejk, having won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1963.

The asteroid 17625 Joseflada has been named after him.

[9A]

Mar 04, 2024

Taos Amrouche's 111th Birthday


This Doodle celebrates Kabyle Algerian French singer, author, and folkloristTaos Amrouche, who made Berber literature and culture more accessible and is among the first Algerian women to publish a novel. Taos Amrouche, whose works help preserve the oral culture of the Kabyle people, a Berber ethnic group indigenous to northern Algeria. The Doodle artwork depicts Amrouche in her stage costume.

[9A]

Oct 28, 2022

Celebrating Haja El Hamdaouia




Today’s Doodle celebrates Moroccan singer and cultural icon Haja El Hamdaouia. The star of Moroccan chaabi music influenced multiple generations of artists with her innovative style.

Haja was born in 1930 in Casablanca, Morocco. Her father loved musicians and often hosted music troupes at their home. This inspired Haja to take theater classes where she learned how to sing and perform chaabi music, a genre that fuses urban and rural Moroccan folk music.

In the early 1950s, she developed an interest in El Aita al Marsaouiya, a sub-genre of chaabi music characterized by poetic lyrics and blues-like melodies. Haja breathed new life into the genre. With her piercing and powerful voice, Haja sang about everything from national independence to daily life.

She wasn't afraid to push boundaries as seen in 1959 when Haja had the idea to sing in front of a makeshift orchestra. She performed at cabaret venues in Casablanca neighborhoods backed by a saxophone, organ, guitar, drums and violin. During this time, she created some of her most popular songs like “Daba Yij” and “Jiti Majiti", which took on the subjects of femininity and love.

Haja continued to create and perform music for over 60 years. She headlined at festivals in Essaouira and Oujda until the late 2000s. Find her music on streaming platforms and in music stores around the world. Thank you, Haja El Hamdaouia, for singing your heart out time and time again.

[9A]

Nov 23, 2018

Valdemar Poulsen’s 148th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Valdemar Poulsen, a Danish engineer whose innovations made magnetic sound recording and long-range radio transmission possible. Many modern conveniences, from telephone answering machines to cassettes, even VHS tapes and floppy disks, used the basic technology that he developed by stringing a steel piano wire at a slight angle between two walls. By sliding an electromagnet down the wire he was able to record sound using a microphone and play it back through a telephone earpiece.

Born in Copenhagen on this day in 1869, Poulsen studied medicine for a time before joining the Copenhagen Telephone Company as a technician. During his time he invented the telegraphone—or telegrafon in Danish–– and was awarded a patent. The cylindrical electromagnetic phonograph was capable of recording up to thirty minutes of speech. In 1900 he showed off his device at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he recorded the voice of Austrian emperor Francis Joseph—still the earliest surviving magnetic recording. After winning a Grand Prix in Paris, he founded the American Telegraphone Company, but sales were sluggish as the device was truly ahead of its time.

That same year brought another breakthrough, a “singing arc” radio that would transmit up to 150 miles. Subsequent improvements of this design, capable of reaching 2,500 miles, were eventually used by the U.S. Navy.

Although he dropped out of medical school, Poulsen was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leipzig. He was also a Fellow of the Danish Academy of Technical Science and the Swedish Institute for Engineering Research, and won the Gold Medal of the Royal Danish Society of Science and the Danish Government Medal of Merit. A stamp was issued in his honor and the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences established an annual award in his name.

Happy Birthday, Valdemar Poulsen!

[9A]

Sep 30, 2018

Helia Bravo Hollis’ 117th Birthday




“I have done everything with love, passion, and courage,” said Helia Bravo Hollis in an interview with UNAM, the Mexican University where she studied and later headed the Biology department. “I have never worked for a salary. Everything has been for the research.”

Known to her students as La Maestra Bravo, Bravo Hollis made enormous contributions to the study of cacti in Mexico and worked tirelessly to found UNAM’s Botanical Gardens, where she served as director during the 1960s. Her passion for learning about nature was contagious to her students and earned her a great deal of respect among colleagues.

Born on this day in 1901, in the Mixcoac section of Mexico City, she first became interested in nature during Sunday walks with her parents. Her interest in the natural world led her to study Biological Sciences and obtain a Master’s degree from the UNAM, with a thesis on varieties of cactus found in Tehuacán, Puebla. An ambitious researcher, Bravo Hollis published her first book by 1937—the landmark study Las Cactaceas de México—which established her as a leading expert in the field.

During a 60 year career, she published nearly 170 articles, two books, as well as some 60 taxa descriptions and another 59 taxonomic revisions. A co-founder of the Mexican Cactus Society, Bravo Hollis discovered numerous species herself. The Ariocarpus bravoanus and Opuntia bravoana cacti are named after her. Her legacy lives on through the Helia Bravo Hollis Botanical Garden in Puebla, which is home to many endangered cactus species and has become a popular destination for students, scientists, and tourists alike.

Happy Birthday Helia Bravo Hollis!

[9A]

Mar 26, 2018

45th Anniversary of the Chipko Movement






Embrace the trees and

Save them from being felled;

The property of our hills,

Save them from being looted.

These words are from a poem by Ghanasyam Raturi, an Indian poet writing about the Chipko movement in the 1970s to protect the regional forests in Uttar Pradesh [Uttrakhand]. The success of this nonviolent, grassroots resistance was felt around the globe, serving as the inspiration for future environmental movements. The Chipko Andolan also stands out as an eco-feminist movement. Women formed the nucleus of the movement, as the group most directly affected by the lack of firewood and drinking water caused by deforestation.

The original Chipko movement dates back to the 18th century, when a group of 363 people from 84 different villages, led by Amrita Devi, laid down their lives to protect a group of khejri trees that were to be cut down at the order of the maharaja, or king, of Jodhpur. After this event, the maharaja decreed that the trees were to be left standing. The original movement was called "angalwaltha", the Garhwali word for "embrace," as the protesters protected the trees by surrounding them and linking hands, physically preventing the loggers from touching the plants. The movement was later named for the Hindi word “chipko,” which means “to stick.”

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Svabhu Kohli and Viplov Singh, remembers the modern movement and those involved.

[9A]

Mar 23, 2022

Elena Caffarena's 119th Birthday





Today’s Doodle—illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu—celebrates the 119th birthday of Elena Caffarena, a feminist lawyer who helped Chilean women win the right to vote in national elections. Considered one of the most important Chilean public figures of the 20th century, Caffarena spearheaded Chile’s workers' rights and women’s rights movements.

Caffarena came of age during a time when the working class labored in perilous conditions to earn meager wages. Caffarena attended the University of Chile in the early 1920s and became one of the first Chilean women to earn a law degree. Around this time, she met Luis Emilio Recabarren, a former low-wage worker and union organizer. He deepened her determination to fight for the rights of underserved communities.

In 1935, Caffarena co-founded the Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women, the first national group to advocate for equal salaries and opportunities for women. Thanks to a bill that Caffarena co-wrote, the Chilean feminists achieved universal suffrage in 1949.

Today’s Doodle celebrates her birthday and reflects on all she accomplished for the Chilean working class and women!

[9A]

Nov 01, 2020

United States Elections 2020 Reminder [Day 1]




Today's Election reminder Doodle leads to a tool that will help you find key information on how to vote in the 2020 U.S. Election including what you need to bring with you to vote, how to check your registration status, and how to find polling places and ballot drop box locations.

[9A]

Mar 29, 2023

Lasminingrat's 169th Birthday




Today’s handsewn Doodle celebrates the 169th birthday of Sundanese author and scholar Lasminingrat who paved the way for future generations of Indonesian women.

Raden Ayu Lasminingrat was born on this day in 1854 in Garut, Indonesia to Raden Ayu Ria and Raden Haji Muhamad Musa, a pioneer of Sundanese printed literature and scholar. In order to pursue her education in Sumedang, she had to be separated from her family and was left under the care of her father’s friend Levyson Norman. He helped to teach her Dutch and contributed to Lasminingrat becoming the first Indonesian woman to be fluent in writing and reading Dutch during her time. After becoming proficient in writing and speaking Dutch, Lasminigrat dreamed of advancing equality for all Indonesian women.

Lasminingrat used her literacy skills to adapt European fairy tales into Sundanese. Under her father’s guidance she started to educate Indonesian children in 1879. She read adapted books aloud, and taught basic moral education and psychology. Her work provided schooling to native Indonesian children and exposed them to international cultures. She continued to translate books into Sundanese, including Warnasari volumes 1 and 2, which were widely celebrated throughout Indonesia.

In 1907, Lasminingrat founded the Sekolaha Keutamaan Istri. The open environment and learning area promoted women’s empowerment, reading, and writing. The school grew to 200 students and 5 classes, and was recognized by the Dutch East Indies government in 1911. With time, the school continued to grow and by 1934 expanded to other cities such as Wetan Garut, Cikajang, and Bayongbong.

Thank you, Lasminingrat for dedicating your life to empowering Indonesian women and being a pioneer in women's education.

[9A]

Mar 08, 2023

International Women's Day 2023




Happy International Women’s Day 2023!

Today’s Doodle honors International Women’s Day by celebrating many ways in which women support women. The vignettes within each “GOOGLE” letter highlight just a few of the many areas in which women around the world support each other to progress and improve each other's quality of life.


Women in positions of influence who advocate for progress across issues central to the lives of women everywhere. Women who come together to explore, learn, and rally for their rights. Women who are primary caregivers to people of all walks of life. Women who are critical support systems for each other in motherhood.


In honor of women across the globe who are supporting each other across all aspects of life — Happy International Women’s Day!

[9A]

May 12, 2022

Mazisi Kunene's 92nd Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 92nd birthday of Mazisi Kunene, an anti-apartheid activist and South African poet laureate whose work recorded the history of the Zulu people.

Kunene was born and raised in Durban, an eastern South African province now called KwaZulu-Natal. As a child, he loved writing short stories and poetry in Zulu. By age 11, he was publishing his writings in local newspapers and magazines. As he grew older, he became a strong advocate for the preservation of indigenous Zulu poetic traditions. His master’s thesis notably critiqued how Western literary traditions were diluting Zulu literature.

At the start of apartheid, Kunene used his works to resist the government’s racist segregation system. When South African government reacted with violence toward the resistance movement in 1959, and exiled Kunene, he fled to the U.K. [[and later the USA), where he helped start anti-apartheid movement. During this time, his work was banned in South Africa.

In exile, Kunene went on to publish monumental works of literature such as “Emperor Shaka the Great,” “Anthem of the Decades” and “The Ancestors and the Sacred Mountain.” His work is known for exploring South African culture, religion and history in the context of colonialism, apartheid and slavery.

In 1975, Kunene became an African literature professor at University of California, Los Angeles, where he taught for nearly two decades. He also served as a cultural advisor to UNESCO during this time.

Post-apartheid, Kunene returned to South Africa to continue writing in isiZulu. In 1993, UNESCO honored him as Africa’s poet laureate. He later also became the first poet laureate of democratic South Africa. His legacy lives on not only in his poetry, but also the Mazisi Kunene Foundation Trust, which is dedicated to nurturing Africa’s next generation of literary talent.

Happy birthday, Mazisi Kunene!

[9A]

Jun 06, 2022

Fasia Jansen's 93rd Birthday




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Hamburg-based guest artist Ayşe Klinge, celebrates the 93rd birthday of Fasia Jansen—an influential Afro-German singer, songwriter and political activist who helped advance the post-war peace movement in West Germany.

Jansen was born on this day in Hamburg in 1929, at a time when racism, inflation and economic depression plagued the country. Aspiring to become a dance star, Jansen joined a dance academy at age 11. But her dreams were thwarted two years later when the academy expelled her out of fear that the Nazis would punish the school for accepting Black students.

Soon after, she was forced to cook for the Neuengamme concentration camp. Under the Nazis’ Dienstverpflichtung decree, which required people to perform a year of unpaid labor, most young girls could work easier jobs in domestic households. But as a Black girl, her only option was to toil in a concentration camp.

It was in the Neuengamme concentration camp that Jansen began singing with political prisoners who worked tirelessly beside her. Singing together helped them survive this traumatic period. After the horrors of World War II, Jansen dedicated her life to creating powerful music to protest injustices everywhere — from the Vietnam War to labor violations in the Ruhr Valley. Jansen also became a strong advocate for the Women’s Rights Movements in Germany and beyond.

She became famous in the 1960s, after performing Unser Marsch ist eine gute Sache [Our March is a Good Thing] alongside the renowned singer Dieter Süverkrüp during the Easter March in resistance to the nuclear arms race. Her song Verbrannte Erde in Deutschland [“Burnt Earth in Germany”], became an important anthem for the anti-nuclear movement in Europe.

In 1991, the government awarded her the medal Verdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, recognizing her work to rebuild a more equitable Germany. Today, there is a street, a municipal school and an African education center named in her honor.

Happy 93rd birthday, Fasia Jansen! No one could stop you from spreading hope. Your story and legacy give people a reason to sing.

[9A]

Feb 23, 2024

Casimir Funk's 140th Birthday



This Doodle celebrates Polish-American biochemistCasimir Funk, who was among the first to discover and introduce the concept of vitamins and essential nutrients needed for human health.

Casimir Funk was a remarkable individual whose life left an indelible mark on the field of science, particularly in the realm of biochemistry and nutrition. From his family's perspective, Casimir was a driven and curious child, always eager to explore the world around him. Growing up, he exhibited a keen intellect and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He pursued his education with passion despite facing obstacles as a Jewish student in Europe during a time of rising anti-Semitism. Casimir persevered and earned his doctorate.

Casimir Funk's contributions to science were immense, but he was not just a brilliant scientist; he was also a loving son, brother, husband and grandfather. His family remembers him as a man of integrity, kindness, and humility. Despite his international acclaim, Casimir remained deeply connected to his roots and cherished his family ties.

Tragically, Casimir's life was cut short when he passed away in 1967 in Albany, New York. However, his legacy endures through his groundbreaking discoveries and the countless lives he has touched through his pioneering work in the field of biochemistry and nutrition. For his family, Casimir Funk will always be remembered not only as a pioneering scientist but also as a beloved member of their family whose passion for knowledge and commitment to improving human health also inspired our families' commitment to pursue careers and interests in health, medicine and nutrition.

-The Funk Family

[9A]

Mar 03, 2023

Hinamatsuri 2023




Today’s Doodle honors Hinamatsuri [雛祭り] also known as girls’ day or the doll festival, in Japan. Each year, Japanese communities celebrate the health and happiness of young girls by dedicating and displaying ornate dolls.

The holiday is one of Japan’s five sekku [seasonal festivals] and dates back over a thousand years to the Edo Period [1603-1868]. Due to an ancient Japanese belief that dolls ward off bad luck, families began to set out simple paper dolls called hitogata to protect and honor their daughters. Over time, the dolls became more intricately crafted.

Today, families display ornate dolls on a red-carpeted, tiered platform called a hinadan. Dolls are crafted throughout Japan, including popular spots like the city of Saitama, where over 50 stores sell different kinds of dolls. The types of dolls vary from figurines wearing traditional kimonos of the Heian Period [794-1185] to smaller handmade dolls hanging as decorations. Other common celebrations include festive food like sweet vibrant rice crackers called hina arare and a yogurt-like beverage known as amazake.

Happy Hinamatsuri, Japan!

[9A]

Jun 29, 2023

Giacomo Leopardi's 225th Birthday


Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Giacomo Leopardi, an Italian poet, philosopher, and scholar. The world regards him as one of the greatest Italian poets of the nineteenth century.

He was born on this day in 1798 in the small provincial town of Recanati. From a young age, he was an avid reader who loved passing time in his father's library. He became fluent in Latin, ancient Greek, and Hebrew during this period, which laid the foundation for him to become a philologist — a scholar who studies the history and development of languages. He went on to translate several Latin and Greek classics.

Leopardi fell in love with ideas from the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that promoted reason and logic over superstition. He was passionate about his beliefs and went on to become one of the most radical thinkers of his time.

At 14, he wrote Pompeo in Egitto [Pompey in Egypt], a manifesto criticizing one of the most powerful figures in Rome. In the following years, he wrote various philological works and notable poems such as L'appressamento della morte [The Approach of Death], Inno a Nettuno [Hymn to Neptune], and Le rimembranze [Memories].

Leopardi spent the rest of his career creating lyric poetry, including Canti [Songs] and Canzoniere [Songbook]. His writing often explored patriotism, unrequited love, and profound reflections on human existence — making him a precursor to Existentialism. One of his final literary pieces was Operette morali [Small Moral Works], a collection of witty philosophical essays written in an ironic style.

Happy 225th birthday, Giacomo Leopardi!

[9A]

Feb 12, 2022

Lou Andreas-Salomé's 161st Birthday



Today’s Doodle illustrated by Berlin, Germany-based guest artist Isabel Seliger celebrates the first woman in history to become a psychoanalyst, Russian-born German poet, essayist, biographer, and novelist Lou Andreas-Salomé. Pursuing a career in philosophy in a time when women’s opportunities in the field were restricted, Andreas-Salomé broke convention by becoming a central figure in prominent intellectual circles in late 19th and early 20th century Europe.

Lou Andreas-Salomé was born Louise Salomé on this day in 1861 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Raised in an intellectual family of Russian, German, and French heritage, Andreas-Salomé developed a fascination with French and German literature as a young adult. In 1880, she furthered her academic studies at the progressive University of Zurich, one of the few schools at the time that did not exclude women.

In 1882, Andreas-Salomé joined the literary salon of eminent feminist Malwida von Meysenburg in Rome, where she met Friedrich Nietzsche. The German philosopher fell in love with Andreas-Salomé, and many believe her intellectual prowess inspired Nietzsche’s 1883 masterwork “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.” Through the turn of the 20th century, Andreas-Salomé published numerous psychological essays and novels—many based on her experiences as a woman navigating societal norms and the growing intellectual movement of her time.

In 1911, Andreas-Salomé met and began an apprenticeship under Sigmund Freud, known today as the father of psychoanalysis. She integrated Freud’s training with her decades of experience writing on the psyche to become the first woman psychoanalyst. Although Andreas-Salomé's story was little-known during her lifetime, a dramatic reimagining of her encounters with Nietzche shed light on her story in the 1981 eponymous opera, “Lou Salome.”

[9A]

Mar 07, 2024

Lola Beltrán's 92nd Birthday



This animatedDoodle celebrates Mexican actress and singerLola Beltrán, who helped popularize Ranchera and Huapango music.

Beltrán grew up in a working class family in El Rosario, Sinaloa. Her church choir inspired her love of singing and she became obsessed with ballads. In 1953, Beltrán and her mother moved to Mexico City to pursue her career as a singer.

After getting a job as a popular radio station’s secretary, Beltrán earned the chance to participate in an on-air singing contest. She didn’t just win — the producers were so impressed that they helped her secure a recording contract. Beltrán started to cover popular songs on air and even earned her own radio show, but she had bigger dreams.

Working with songwriters, Beltrán crafted stories of underdog characters seeking and earning redemption. Her melancholic voice and sensibilities resonated with people across Mexico, and songs like “Cucurrucucu Paloma" and “Cielito Lindo” made her an in-demand talent. Although she sang about the country’s working-class people, she managed to engross audiences from all walks of life.

Beltrán became the first Ranchera singer to perform at the prestigious El Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. She also sang for presidents and leaders around the world. Over the course of her career, Beltrán made 100 albums and starred in 50 films. She inspired generations of Mexican singers to embrace folk music and sing about their authentic experiences.

Happy Birthday, Lola Beltrán!

[9A]

Aug 31, 2023

Celebrating Lake Toba




Today’s Doodle celebrates Lake Toba, or Danau Toba, in Sumatra island of Indonesia! It’s the world’s largest crater lake and one of the deepest lakes in the world. Lake Toba is a natural result of a massive volcanic eruption from Toba Caldera thousands of years ago. Lake Toba also boasts beautifully scenic sights and is home to a UNESCO Global Geopark. On this day in 2020, Lake Toba was designated as UNESCO Global Geopark.

Toba Caldera erupted more than 74,000 years ago and created Lake Toba. The mega-eruption caused the volcano’s magma chamber to collapse, which eventually formed the island now known as Samosir. The island is a well known tourist destination and home to several Indigenous ethnic tribes.

In celebrating Lake Toba, it’s also important to recognize the Indigenous Batak Toba people who are the lake’s native inhabitants. Their traditional villages riddled with local markets and wondrous houses attract curious visitors from far and wide. In the villages it's common to see traditional dancing like the Tor-Tor and authentic wood carvings souvenirs.

Many tourists also visit Lake Toba for its variety of outdoor activities and breathtaking natural wonders. Those who aren’t afraid of heights visit Huta Ginjang to go paragliding, while others who prefer the water can relax on beaches or kayak through the lake. The nearby Sipiso-piso waterfall is also said to be an extraordinary experience that washes away all worries.

[9A]

Oct 31, 2018

40th Anniversary of Titicaca National Reserve




Today’s Doodle honors the 40th anniversary of the La Reserva Nacional del Titicaca [Titicaca National Reserve], which protects one of the rarest ecosystems on earth. Lake Titicaca is one of the planet’s few remaining ancient lakes, estimated to be 3 million years old. Situated in the Andes mountains some 3,810 meters above sea level, it holds the title for highest elevation of any major lake in the world and largest freshwater lake in South America.

Funded by the Peruvian state, the Titicaca National Reserve also supports the ancient civilization of the Uros people, who live on floating islands made from reeds, like the one seen in today’s Doodle. The Uros moved to these islands when the Incas expanded onto their land, and still live and fish there.

The National Reserve is also a living zoo of rare animals that require protection, including the Lake Titicaca frog, whose baggy skin enables it breathe under the surface of the lake. In the national reserve there’s also the Ballivian Sponge, which has been living there for 7,000 years; 60 species of birds; and mammals including the wild guinea pig, the vizcacha [a chinchilla-like rodent], and Andean wolves, llamas, alpacas, skunks, and foxes.

This truly amazing place is unlike any other on Earth, rich in biodiversity and culture — and the reserve is invaluable to its continued survival.

Happy anniversary to the Titicaca National Reserve!

[9A]

Jan 26, 2018

Australia Day 2018




Today’s Doodle celebrates the unique and beautiful national parks that bring Australians together.

Australia has more than 500 national parks, each populated with extraordinary plants and animals you won’t find anywhere else. For example, millions of people flock to Port Campbell National Park and Twelve Apostles Marine National Park [featured in today's Doodle] for the stunning scenery.

Located along the southwest coast of Victoria, the parks’ cliffside viewpoints overlook their most iconic sight: seven pillars of stacked limestone, battered by wind and waves, that still rise above the crashing surf to give the marine national park its name.

But below the surface, the full force of the Southern Ocean has created a seascape of canyons, caves, arches, and fissures. Nutrients delivered by perpetually churning waves provide the energy needed to maintain the subtidal and intertidal reefs, which support the greatest diversity of invertebrates on limestone reef in Victoria.

Swirling kelp forests are home to sea urchins, lobsters, and abalone, while a little deeper, the offshore reefs are inhabited by colorful sponges, and of course, fish. This marine metropolis is visited by the flippered forms of local fur seals and commuting little penguins.

Back on the beach, lucky human visitors may spot the rare hooded plover feeding at the water’s edge [also featured in today's Doodle]. The bird is one of the continent’s tens of thousands of endemic species — i.e., found only in Australia — that call the parks and surrounding areas home.

Happy Australia Day 2018!

[9A]

May 11, 2017

80th Anniversary of Los Glaciares National Park




Argentina’s stunning Los Glaciares National Park was established on May 11, 1937. Although the park is only 80 years old, its biggest attractions have been shaping the landscape for millennia.

The park’s northern boundary is a cluster of soaring, sharp-toothed peaks, including the forbidding Mt. Fitz Roy. Dominating the southern stretch is the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier, a towering wall of ice grinding a path through the Patagonian Andes. Its terminus, where the glacier flows into Argentina’s largest freshwater lake, is 5 km wide at an average height of 74 m above the lake’s surface.

As the powdery blue glacier advances, the ice often gives way with a resounding crack, plunging into the chilly lake and calving enormous icebergs. This dramatic icefall makes it one of the park’s most popular tourist attractions. Visitors can also hike across the rippled surface of the glacier.

Los Glaciares National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981, as an area of outstanding natural beauty and an important example of the geological processes of glaciation.

[9A]

Mar 08, 2024

International Women's Day 2024


This International Women’s DayDoodle highlights a group of women sharing wisdom across generations within a quilt embroidered with symbols of progress made over the years.

This Doodle celebrates International Women’s Day and all the progress that has been made towards gender equality. On this day in 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day [IWD] for the first time.

March 8th commemorates two early Women’s Day demonstrations, one in Saint Petersburg, and the other in New York City. While in different years and places, these rallies had common goals of achieving gender equality including fair and safe employment, the right to vote, and the right to hold public office.

IWD marches today focus on issues like gender and racial wage gaps, reproductive rights, and the prevention of violence against women. Today, people celebrate women who have transformed society, fought for equality, and set positive examples for people everywhere.

The progress made by women over the years would not be possible without the courageous acts of those before them. Here’s to those who paved the way and to those who are carrying the torch further — happy International Women’s Day!

[9A]

Mar 08, 2018

International Women's Day 2018






Happy International Women’s Day 2018!

Those familiar with Doodles know that we frequently celebrate extraordinary women throughout history such as prominent inventors, scientists, writers, artists, activists, philanthropists, and so on. Today, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the stories and voices of another group of extraordinary women—the everyday women living all over the world.

For today’s global, interactive Doodle, we reached out to 12 female artists of all backgrounds to share their personal stories in a series of visual narratives. Specifically, each story represents a moment, person, or event that has impacted their lives as women. While each artist tells a unique story, the themes are universal, reminding us of how much we often have in common. We hope that the combined power of words and images help bring these stories to life in a way that invokes feelings of understanding, empathy, and spirit of the day.

This project has been an incredible journey for us, and we’ve been moved by the candor, intimacy, and bravery of our contributors’ stories. Translating these works across 80+ languages and sharing them across a global audience means so much to us, and we hope that readers will go about their day feeling as inspired as we do.

Special thanks to our storytellers, readers, and everyone involved in this project to celebrate such an important day. And last -but certainly not least- thanks to all the women in our own lives who continue to move and change the world with their own stories.

-Lydia Nichols & Alyssa Winans, Doodlers & IWD 2018 Project Leads

[9A]

8 March 2023

International Women's Day 2023




Today’s Doodle honors International Women’s Day by celebrating many ways in which women support women. The vignettes within each “GOOGLE” letter highlight just a few of the many areas in which women around the world support each other to progress and improve each other's quality of life.

Women in positions of influence who advocate for progress across issues central to the lives of women everywhere. Women who come together to explore, learn, and rally for their rights. Women who are primary caregivers to people of all walks of life. Women who are critical support systems for each other in motherhood.

In honor of women across the globe who are supporting each other across all aspects of life — Happy International Women’s Day!

[9A]

Mar 08, 2014

International Women's Day 2014




Women have historically been underrepresented in almost all fields: science, school curricula, business, politics — and, sadly, doodles. In addition to our continued effort for doodle diversity and inclusion, this truly International Women’s Day doodle features a host of over a 100 inspiring women from around the world.

Here is the full list [in order of appearance]:

Cee Chatpawee, TV host, IT Princess, Thailand

Chinaza Godwin Christiana, Student, Nigeria

Easkey Britton, Surfer and the first woman to surf in Iran, PhD and doctoral candidate, Ireland

Rahimah Yussof, Developer group leader, Brunei

Chen Yuhong, School teacher, China

Naho Okamoto, Jewelry designer, Japan

Mary Kom, Five-time World Boxing champion, India

Funlayo Adewale, Canteen owner, Nigeria

Jennifer Luo & Yi-hsin Chen, Mothers to be, Taiwan

Alifiyah Ganjee, Developer group leader, Kenya

Karnataka State Home Guard, India

Ana Cecilia Castillo, Developer group leader, Guatemala

Rivka Carmi, President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Camila Batmanghelidjh, Founded the place2be and Kids Company, caring for 17,000 children, UK/Iran

Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania

Sarah Sechan, TV personality and entertainer, Indonesia

Shoko Uemura, Under-23 Women's Football Team member, Japan

Janet Mock, Trans woman rights activist and author, USA

Harusoga Fujima, Professional Nihon Buyo dancer [traditional dance], Japan

Mara Gabrilli, Congresswoman & Brazil's spokesperson for people with disabilities, Brazil

Maria da Penha, Women's rights advocate, named the law protecting women from domestic violence, Brazil

Viviane Senna, Entrepreneur and founder of NGOs, Brazil

Marta Silva, Awarded multiple times by FIFA golden ball as best female soccer player in the world, Brazil

Students, Guatemala

Maia Sandu, Minister of education, Moldova

Chamki, Adventurous and inquisitive schoolgirl muppet, India

Christine Van Broeckhoven, Molecular biologist, Belgium

Tanha Islam, Aspiring engineer, Bangladesh

Jake Feinler, Former head of Network Information Center at Stanford and Internet Hall of Fame member, USA

Iryna Velychko, Galyna Korniyenko & Marina Derkach, Developer group organizers, Ukraine

Marisa Millán, Proud grandma, Spain

Noelle Wenceslao, Janet Belarmino & Carina Dayondon, First Filipinas to climb Mount Everest, Philippines

Clarisse Reille, Managing Director of French Professional Committee for Apparel Economy Development, France

Gesche Joost, Professor of Design Research and one of Germany's "100 masterminds of tomorrow", Germany

Dora, Explorer

Nogah Dufresne, Multinational baby, France/Israel

Tooba Shaikh, Aspiring Developer, Pakistan

Katelyn Donnelly, Executive Director of the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund, USA/UK


Catherine Koo, Chairlady of United Christian College Parents Teachers Association, Hong Kong

Roba Al Assi, Blogger, Jordan

SOS Lambrate, Ambulance volunteers, Italy

Camila Bernal Villegas, Director of the CRAN Foundation and cancer survivor, Colombia

Malala Yousafzai, Education activist, Pakistan

Ashaji, Holds a Guinness World Record as most recorded artist in music history, India

Nonna Grishaeva, Actress, comedian and singer, Russia

Ndileka Xameni, Runs an orphanage, South africa

İpek Hanım's Farm, Business woman turned farmer and her village , Turkey

Prof. Jacqueline A. Oduol, Gender expert fighting for Women's and children's rights, Kenya

Martha Debayle, Radio personality, named one of the 50th most powerful women in Mexico by Forbes, Mexico

Alenka Godec, One of the most prominent jazz and pop singers in Slovenia, Slovenia

Zakeeya Patel, Actress, dancer and winner of South Africa's Strictly Come Dancing 2013, South Africa

Astrid Sartiasari, Singer, Indonesia

Jenny Chan, Ella Wong & Ching Hoi Man, Spokeswomen, Hong Kong

Isadora Faber, Education activist, 14 years old, Brazil


Refiloe Khaoli, Copyrighter, South Africa


Serena Gu, Grace Liang & Sharon Tam, University start-ups advocates, Hong Kong

Anne Geddes, Renowned photographer and women's advocate, Australia

Cecilia Chung, Social justice & human rights activist, HK/US

Diaa Elyaacoubi, Serial entrepreneur, named Entrepreneur of the Year 2004, France

Ros Juan, Entrepreneur and Social advocate, Philippines

Funmi Victor-Okigbo, Events Production Designer, Nigeria

Chen Junlan and QiQiGe, Office workers, China

Tarryn Tomlinson, Inspiring quadriplegic working with disadvantaged youth, South Africa

Zahira Asmal, Founder of Design South Africa, South Africa

Foluso Olaniyan, Agricultural pioneer, Nigeria

Jirawadee Sudta, Awarded National Excellent Youth in law and protection of children's rights, Thailand

Thanks to our amazing editor Morgan Stiff, Zap Mama for the wonderful music, and all the women and girls who participated.

Happy International Women's Day!

Posted by Liat Ben-Rafael

[9A]

Mar 08, 2016

International Women's Day 2016




Over the years, Doodles have commemorated the achievements of women in science, civil rights, journalism, sports, arts, technology and beyond. It’s always an honor to pay tribute to women who have changed the course of history, sometimes in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But for this year’s International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the Doodle-worthy women of the future. So we gathered our cameras and pencils and visited 13 countries where we spoke to 337 women and girls and asked them to complete the sentence, “One day I will…”

From toddlers to grandmothers, the women in San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Lagos, Moscow, Cairo, Berlin, London, Paris, Jakarta, Bangkok, New Delhi and Tokyo all sparkled with personality. Each new city brought more “One day I will”s, more signature dance moves, more hugs, more high-fives. The aspirations we heard were as varied as the women and girls who shared them, from the very personal—swim with pigs in the Bahamas—to the very global—give a voice to those who can’t speak—and everything in between. When it was done, we found that our own “One day I will…”s had grown bigger and richer, inspired by the women we had met.

Even women who are already accomplished aren’t done dreaming. Jane Goodall shared her hope to one day discuss the environment with the Pope, while Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai and activist Muzoon Almellehan continue to work fearlessly toward a future where every girl can go to school.

In most filming locations we worked with a female-only crew to help create a celebratory and encouraging environment.

It’s not always easy to put into words what you want to achieve. When we asked women and girls on the street to articulate their aspirations, they often had to pause and think about it for a few minutes. Whether their responses were detailed or broad strokes, concrete or abstract, funny or heartwarming, it was inspiring to see them take the time to dream.

Creators: Lydia Nichols, Helene Leroux & Liat Ben-Rafael.

Original music: Merrill Garbus [tUnE-yArDs].

[9A]

Mar 08, 2021

International Women's Day 2021





Today’s annual International Women’s Day Doodle takes a journey through a series of firsts in women’s history—highlighting female pioneers who have challenged the status quo and paved the way in education, civil rights, science, art, and so much more.

The video Doodle pays homage to these heroes by depicting the hands that have opened the doors for generations of women. While some firsts achieve something spectacularly new, others are receiving a recognition or right that is long overdue.

Suffragists, academics, gold medalists, entrepreneurs and more—today’s Doodle celebrates the women around the world who overcame the obstacles of their time to create a lasting legacy. These firsts stand on the shoulders of countless others—women who laid the foundation, in the past, for today’s doors to be finally opened and glass ceilings broken.

In honor of the trailblazers of the past, present, and future—Happy International Women’s Day!

From the first woman astronaut to the first woman to climb Mount Everest, in the past year, the world searched for “the first woman” more than ever before. See how Google is celebrating the women who have achieved historical firsts, as well as the many who have come after them.

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Doodler, Helene Leroux.

[9A]

August 31, 2015

Malaysia Independence Day 2015




Deep within a Malaysian street market, a teamaker spins a metal cup towards the sky. In mid-air, he turns it just so, and out pours a hot mix of tea and condensed milk. The drink speeds towards the ground – until another cup swoops in, scooping it out of the air. The tea is saved, and the wide-eyed crowd bursts into cheers!

This is the ritual of “teh tarik,” the national drink of Malaysia. Brewed hot, it cools and thickens as it’s slung back and forth between the teamaker’s special mixing cups. It’s not only delicious to drink, but a delight to watch. That’s why we chose it for the Malaysian Independence Day doodle, illustrated by guest artist Alyssa Winans.

[9A]

June 12, 2018

Eugénie Brazier’s 123rd Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates Eugénie Brazier, also known as “La Mère Brazier” [the Brazier Mother']. Brazier was a French chef who was famously awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide.

Eugénie Brazier was born in a mostly rural region of eastern France, in the late 19th century. When her mother passed away, Brazier relocated to a nearby farm where she looked after the cows and pigs and began her exploration into the local cuisine. Later, at age 20, Brazier gave birth to her son Gaston, and left for Lyon to pursue an apprenticeship and refine her skills.

Eight years after moving to Lyon, Eugénie Brazier opened La Mère Brazier which quickly developed a reputation as an elegant culinary destination for politicians and celebrities. La Mère Brazier expanded many times to accommodate the massive increase in customers. Eventually, she expanded the business west to Col de la Luère, where her restaurant’s lack of running water or electricity didn’t stop it from achieving the highest degree of praise.

[9A]

October 12, 2020

Laudelina de Campos Melo's 116th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 116th birthday of Afro-Brazilian union activist, business owner, and domestic worker Laudelina de Campos Melo, who in 1936 founded Brazil’s first association of domestic workers. An eminent pioneer in the struggle for Brazilian workers’ rights, Melo dedicated her life to the fight against racial, class, and gender discrimination.

Laudelina de Campos Melo was born on this day in 1904 in Poços de Caldas, in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais. Her mother served as a domestic worker and Melo became one as a teenager as well. In the process, she witnessed firsthand the racism, poor working conditions, and exploitation faced by so many workers, including her own mother— an experience that inspired her fight for change.

Melo relocated to the coastal city of Santos in 1924 and became involved in local organizations with a focus on improving the lives of Black Brazilians. This set a course of activism that she followed throughout her life. In 1936 she founded the historic Association of Domestic Workers, and she later formed a similar association in Campinas, which went on to officially earn recognition as a union in 1988.

In 2015, Melo’s movement for justice achieved another victory: when the Brazilian government passed legislation to extend labor rights to domestic workers.

Happy birthday, Laudelina de Campos Melo!

[9A]

April 29, 2017

Tama’s 18th Birthday






Today’s Doodle celebrates little Tama, the beloved stationmaster of Kishi Station in Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan.

For many years, the train station was lightly traveled, causing officials to close it in 2004. But in 2007, the railway appointed Tama the calico cat to be the stationmaster. The new local celebrity drew crowds of travelers to see her in her office, where she sometimes wore an official cat-sized cap. Not only did Tama draw tourists to her new cat-themed cafe and gift shop [even the station itself got a cat-themed makeover!], but her celebrity also kept the train service open for local residents.

Though Tama passed away in 2015, a new kitty called Nitama [or “Tama the second”] keeps the trains running and poses for selfies with passengers.

Happy birthday to the world’s first feline stationmaster!

Doodle by Lydia Nichols

[9A]

Sep 30, 2016

Andrejs Jurjans’s 160th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates a man who, in many ways, carried Latvian music forward into the 20th century.

As the country’s first professional composer and musicologist, Andrejs Jurjāns delved into the Latvian folk music of the past while taking the sounds of his homeland to new heights. Throughout his lifetime, he collected and analyzed thousands of folk melodies, organizing them into an anthology that was published across six volumes. He also composed the first-ever Latvian symphonic works, including an instrumental concerto and a cantata, and was well-known for his choir arrangements.

When Jurjāns wasn’t crafting original pieces, he spent much of his time teaching. From 1882 — the year he finished his own schooling at the St. Petersburg Conservatory — to 1916, he shared his knowledge of music theory and more with students. Through his instruction, research, and composition, Jurjāns inspired many of the Latvian musicians who came after him. Today we pay tribute to that legacy on what would have been the composer’s 160th birthday.

[9A]

Mar 10, 2024

Mother's Day 2024 [Ireland]

[9A]

Sep 16, 2023

Mexico Independence Day 2023




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Mexican guest artist Ulises Mendicutty, celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. On this day in 1810, the country began its fight for independence. After a decade-long struggle, Mexico officially became a sovereign nation.

The anniversary commemorates when a local priest in Dolores, Mexico rang the church bell to summon townspeople. The priest gave an inspiring speech now known as the Cry of Dolores, encouraging the listeners to revolt against Spanish rule.

On Independence Day eve, the President of Mexico rings that same bell before reciting the Cry of Dolores. Onlookers dress in national colors and wave the green, white, and red Mexican flag. Colors of the Mexican flag are represented in today’s Doodle artwork which celebrates the “Golden Age of Mexican Cinema” when Mexico's film industry blossomed in the 1940s and 1950s.

Happy Independence Day, Mexico!

[9A]

May 17, 2023

Renate Krößner's 78th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 78th birthday of German actress Renate Krößner. She rose to international fame after her role as the titular character in Solo Sunny – a groundbreaking film from East Germany that resonated with people everywhere.

Krößner was born on this day in Osterode, Germany in 1945. She grew up in Berlin and performed in school theater productions. After studying acting at the Staatliche Schauspielschule Berlin, Krößner worked in East Germany theaters. While she performed smaller roles in a few television programs, Krößner was on her way to becoming a star.

In 1980, she was cast as the lead actress in Solo Sunny, an East Germany film about a band’s singer who longs to be a solo artist. Krößner’s performance as the rebellious and angst-ridden Sonny received critical acclaim around the world. She earned the Berlin International Film Festival’s Silver Bear for Best Actress—the first for an East Germany production. Her character’s attitude and fashion sense also widely influenced German youth.

After receiving permission to leave East Germany in 1985 she moved to West Berlin, Krößner became a mainstay on television shows like Stubbe - Von Fall zu Fall and Einmal Bulle. Her role as the love interest of a Franciscan monk in the show Bruder Esel earned her a Golden Lion award. She also starred in more films, including the thriller Unbesiegbar and the comedy Alles auf Zucker.

In 1991, Krößner was a jury member at the 41st Berlin International Film Festival. She later won a Deutscher Filmpreis Best Actress award for her work in Nordkurve. Krößner continued acting into the 2000s, later moving to Brandenburg, Germany.

Happy Birthday Renate Krößner, your iconic performances are immortalised on the silver screen, and are just as captivating today.

[9A]

Mar 01, 2023

Celebrating Mickey Chen





Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Taiwan-based guest artist Dyin Li, celebrates Taiwanese filmmaker and activist Mickey Chen, who focused on telling stories from people that belonged to disenfranchised communities. On this day in 1999, his film Boys for Beauty became the first LGBTQ-themed documentary to be screened at a movie theater in Taiwan.

Chen, fascinated by cameras from a young age, started creating movies in college. At 30, he made his directorial debut with Not Simply a Wedding Banquet [1997], a documentary about the first gay couple to have a public wedding in Taipei. It explored the struggles that members of the LGBTQ+ community faced in Taiwan.

In 1999, Chen released Boys for Beauty, an eye-opening exposé that followed the lives of three gay teenagers from Taipei. The film took a bold stance against gender norms and showcased the societal pressures each subjects’ relatives endured. It was a box office success and a pivotal achievement for Taiwanese cinema.

Boys for Beauty won countless awards and film festival placements, most notably the Audience Award at the 2000 Taiwan International Documentary Festival. Chen gave an inspiring acceptance speech that praised the LGBTQ+ movement and invited several directors to join his on stage in an act of solidarity.

Chen wrote and directed many more documentaries such as Memorandum on Happiness [2003], Scars on Memory [2005], and Fragile in Love [2007]. He also published Taipei Father, New York Mother in 2011, a book about family tragedies that occurred during his youth. Throughout his career, Chen documented significant moments of LGBTQ+ history in Taiwan and opened the eyes of the public to them and Taiwan’s progressive LGBTQ+ societal views are a result of trailblazers like him.

[9A]

Feb 10, 2023

P.K. Rosy's 120th Birthday




Today’s Doodle honours P.K. Rosy, who became the first female lead in Malayalam cinema. On this day in 1903, Rosy was born Rajamma in Thiruvananthapuram, formerly Trivandrum [Kerala’s capital city].

Rosy’s passion for acting began at a young age. In an era when performing arts was discouraged in many sections of society, especially for women, Rosy broke barriers with her role in the Malayalam film Vigathakumaran [The Lost Child]. Though she never received recognition for her work during her lifetime, Rosy’s story is relevant to conversations about representation in the media. Today, her story serves as motivation and inspiration for many.

Thank you for your courage and the legacy you leave behind, P.K. Rosy.

[9A]

Feb 28, 2020

Sir John Tenniel's 200th Birthday



“‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ [said Alice].
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.”
—Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland”

Don’t be late for today’s very important date! That is, the 200th birthday of British illustrator and artist Sir John Tenniel, celebrated by today’s Doodle. Tenniel is one of the most highly-regarded Victorian illustrators and painters, and is perhaps best remembered for bringing to life the characters of Lewis Carroll’s timeless “Alice in Wonderland” series.

Tenniel was born in London on this day in 1820, and his talent was clear from a young age. At just 16, the mostly self-taught artist submitted his first work, an oil painting, for exhibition at the Society of British Artists. Tenniel found his calling as an illustrator in 1850 when he became a political cartoonist with the historic weekly magazine Punch. Tenniel developed a distinctive style, due in part to his near-photographic memory.

It was this unique approach that most likely caught the attention of writer and professor Charles Dodgson, whose pen name was Lewis Carroll. After an introduction in 1864, Tenniel agreed to illustrate Carroll’s new book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” released the following year.

Thus began a highly successful, if strained, creative partnership that continued with “Through the Looking Glass” in 1872. The result: a series of classic characters, such as Alice and the Cheshire Cat, as depicted in the Doodle artwork’s rendition of their iconic meeting—characters who, along with many others, remain beloved by readers of all ages to this day.

After his work with Caroll, Tenniel never accepted another illustration job again; instead, he returned to his political cartoon work at Punch. For his considerable contributions to both the magazine and “Alice in Wonderland,” Tenniel received a knighthood in 1893.

Tenniel’s illustrations have animated the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations. His legacy continues to thrive, as readers cherish these timeless works of art to this day.

[9A]

Mar 11, 2024

Celebrating the Flat White



This animated Doodle celebrates the flat white, a popular espresso-based beverage which originated in Australia and New Zealand. Have here or to go? Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the flat white, a beloved coffee drink of steamed milk poured over a shot of espresso.

Many speculate the drink was first served in Australia and New Zealand during the 1980s when the drink popped up on menus in Sydney and Auckland around the same time. Traditionally served in a ceramic cup, a flat white is made up of an espresso shot topped with steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam. Being “flatter” than a cappuccino or latte, flat whites are popular with coffee connoisseurs who are looking for less foam. Often, baristas will show off their skills and create beautiful artwork with the pour, something that’s a common sight in many cafes across Australia and New Zealand.

Coffee culture has changed a lot over the years and so have ways to make the flat white. Made with whole milk back in the day, today it’s common to see Aussies and Kiwis ordering it with plant-based milk — oat milk is a rising favourite!

The flat white has since spread far across the world, delighting and becoming a staple in many nations. No matter the origins, coffee lovers worldwide agree it’s a favourite morning or arvo [afternoon] pick-me-up!